Mayor Eric Adams' legal team is seeking to have the mayor's public corruption case thrown out, arguing that the former top federal prosecutor violated court ethics laws by publicly defaming Mr. Hizuner for political gain. I'm trying.
Former U.S. Attorney Damian Williams, who resigned last month ahead of President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, said that by writing an op-ed published Thursday, he “effectively announced his intention to challenge Mayor Adams on the political stage.” “did. city and state, Adams' attorney, Alex Spiro, wrote in a letter to federal judge Dale E. Ho in Manhattan that he describes Gotham as being in a state of “deep crisis and a broken moral compass.” Ta.
Spiro also said that Williams Website Last month, he included a link to a media article “disparaging Adams” to promote himself.
The letter, first seen by The Post Saturday before it was delivered to the judge, says Williams violated federal court ethics laws by “engaging in extrajudicial commentary that interferes with a fair trial.” claims.
Williams also claims that he violated New York State Rules of Professional Conduct, which “similarly restricts” publicity in ongoing criminal trials by attorneys who were not involved in the case.
“Mr. Williams has filed a frivolous lawsuit against his political opponents in order to strengthen his immediate candidacy, which may include mayor of New York City,” Spiro said approvingly in the four-page letter. Ta.
“This conduct is not only highly unethical, but also supports the strategy of this federal prosecutor's office to prejudice jurors,” Adams wrote in his motion to dismiss the case. should be taken into consideration.”
“Mr. Williams' ethical obligations did not disappear when he resigned as U.S. Attorney,” Spiro added.
In addition to dismissing the case, the letter requests that the U.S. Department of Justice launch an investigation into whether the charges against Adams were “bred for improper purposes” by Williams.
Williams has never publicly said he was considering running for office.
He and federal prosecutors did not immediately return messages Saturday.
Adams was indicted in September on charges of accepting bribes from foreign sources and making illegal campaign contributions, making him the first sitting mayor in New York City's history to be charged with a federal crime.
He has pleaded not guilty, vowed to continue serving, and is scheduled to go to trial in April.
